Heart of the Rockies - Tour 1

Discover fantastic landscapes by coach and train

This cruisetour through the Canadian Rocky Mountains includes fantastic landscapes and a 2-day adventure onboard the famous Rocky Mountaineer. You will see the highlights of Banff National Park, scenic Lake Louise and the Athabasca Glacier at close range and pass stunning canyons between Jasper and Vancouver by train. In Vancouver, you will embark Grand or Star Princess in order to discover the glaciers of Alaska on a fantastic cruise.

Day 2 - Calgary / Banff
Drive west following the Trans-Canada Highway, watch the Olympic city dissolve into the foothills, as the majestic Rockies rise ahead. Pass by the Three Sisters, Fairholme and Rundle Ranges enroute to one of the best known destinations in the Rockies, the charming mountain resort of Banff. Before being dropped off at your hotel you will have a sightseeing tour of Banff which will highlight many local delights including Bow Falls, the Hoodoo Lookout, Lake Minnewanka and Surprise Corner. Also included in your Banff tour is a ride up the Banff Gondola for a panoramic 360 degree view of the six surrounding mountain ranges. Overnight Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. Breakfast and dinner included.

Day 3 – Banff
Cherished by Canadians, Banff National Park is renowned around the world as a protected paradise with 6,641 square kilometers of mountains, forests, and lakes to explore. Banff National Park is set in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. It attracts roughly 4 million visitors each year. It's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today is a free day to allow you to explore Banff at your leisure. Overnight Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. Breakfast and dinner included.

Day 4 – Banff / Lake Louise
Today's sightseeing will include some of the most famous features in the Canadian Rockies. With the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise proudly standing at one end and the Victoria Glacier reflecting off the other, Lake Louise is one of the sights most often preserved in photographs by visitors from all over the world. From Lake Louise, your tour continues on to Moraine Lake, located in the dramatic Valley of the Ten Peaks before heading back to Lake Louise. Overnight Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Breakfast and dinner included.

Day 5 – Lake Louise / Jasper
Highway 93, known as the Icefield Parkway, qualifies as one of the most scenic drives in the world. It traverses more than 100 glaciers, pristine lakes and some of the highest Rockies. Stop at the Columbia Icefield where an experience of a lifetime awaits! Shuttle to the Athabasca Glacier where you will board a unique, specially designed Ice Explorer for a guided tour onto the surface of the Glacier. A buffet lunch at Columbia Icefield Chalet is included. Overnight Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 6 – Jasper / Kamloops
Board Rocky Mountain Rail Tours' "Rocky Mountaineer." Your redleaf rail adventure begins as you board the train and depart Jasper, traveling along the Miette River to Yellowhead Pass. The pass is one of the lowest points on the continental divide and sits on the border between Alberta and British Columbia. Just past Yellowhead Lake, you'll meet up with the headwaters of the Fraser River. This scenic route is dotted with mountain streams and lakes. The Rocky Mountaineer will cross the North Thompson River several times before arriving in Kamloops. Breakfast, lunch and snacks are included onboard. Overnight at a Kamloops hotel.

Day 7 – Kamloops / Vancouver
Soon after your departure from Kamloops, follow the Thompson River and watch the landscape give way to the high, steep walls and "40 miles of hell" of the Fraser Canyon. Sit back in comfort while the train winds along canyon walls and through the deep tunnels constructed by the railway while facing impossible odds. The route passes over 28 bridges and through 23 tunnels and snow sheds between Kamloops and the small town of Boston Bar. Travel through the fertile Fraser Delta en route to Vancouver. Breakfast, lunch and snacks will be served at your seat and is included while aboard the Rocky Mountaineer. Overnight at the Four Seasons Hotel.